Moms work very hard in the New Year and Spring to get ready for the Summer season which usually gets us sidetracked. Fall is a great and important time of year to begin, resume or tighten up good habits. This is because travel is winding down, and the kids (of all ages) go back to school; and because the most difficult time of year (the holidays) will be here before you know it.
Don’t repeat yourself. Getting my kids to listen the first time every time is a fantasy of mine, but this is about what you can control: don’t repeat tasks. When you are busy packing lunch and filling water bottles for everyone in the family, don’t forget that you are part of the family too! You already have the supplies out, and you will already need to clean up. Don’t double your workload.
If you’re prone to neglect yourself, then prep your lunch first not last. (Taking care of yourself is not about motivation.) If momma is hungry and upset with her nutrition everyone else pays the price!
Work from home? You’re not off the hook. Put your lunch on a plate/in a bowl so that you don’t end up eating cheese-its, M&M’s and your self-esteem every hour on the hour until dinner.
Do buy for the family not “for the kids.” You and your spouse will also be eating the chips purchased “for the kids” to pack for school lunch. In reality there is no such thing as food “for the kids” because everyone is going to end up eating everything.
Having healthy parents (body-fat levels are crucial for long-term health) is far more important than ensuring your kids have their every desire indulged. Furthermore, the childhood obesity epidemic is real. We live in an environment where our kids have non-stop access to unlimited quantities of high-calorie, high-reward food. They don’t need temptation at home anymore than you do. Will they complain? Of course, but children cry and complain about everything and (especially!!) nothing. Nobody can stop children from crying or being upset, but one of the best ways we can help them (and the parents) eat better is by changing what’s available in the house.
Don’t roll your eyes at this. Put yourself first. Yes, you’ve heard this 1,000x, but hearing is not doing. Self-care is incredibly difficult for moms of any age, but it also the greatest gift for yourself and family.
I get 3 hours a day of child care. This is all the time I have to do work and workout. With our new business I would start with work, and intend to finish with a workout. However, after 3 months I was averaging half a workout once a week. My husband made the crazy suggestion to put my own workout before work on my to do list during child care. Don’t tell him, but, he was right. I’m more productive, sleep better, have lost weight and am happier. Whenever I slip and let work consume my “me time” everyone feels the change in my energy and mood.